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26 February 2017

Looking at the range of regular bath bombs that Lush currently offer, I'll be honest and say that Big Blue would be one of my last choices. This is by no means a reflection of how wonderful the bath bomb is, and I certainly recognise the merits it possesses as a best-selling product. However, it is rare that I ever get the urge to use one in the bath, and this is mostly down to its smell.Containing a large dosage of seaweed and lavender, the fragrance of both the bath bomb, and indeed the body conditioner, is very potent. This is not for the faint-hearted and definitely not one for those who dislike rather heady smells. In as many words, Big Blue is like a kick in the teeth, albeit less aggressive and more rewarding for the skin.When I first found out that Lush were bringing out Big Blue as one of their six exclusive body conditioners, I was a little perplexed as to why it had been chosen from the many other fragrances that I would have envisaged as being far more popular in the Lush community. Reading reviews from others before mine had arrived also prompted me to believe that this wasn't going to be a revered choice amongst Lush fans either.

I'll be honest and say that an initial sniff of the product when it arrived did cause a slight negative reaction from myself - a scrunching up of a nose and a grimace for starters. Yet, once I had gotten used to the smell, and when I actually found myself thoroughly enjoying the product the next day in the shower, I realised that it had taken some unwarranted slack from the community that I wanted to rectify.What I will say is that the body conditioner is almost identical to the bath bomb. There is a strong note of lavender that sits near enough at the top, which offers a brassy, herbal offering that is almost slightly neurotic because of how powerful it comes across in this format. Alongside this, the woody and equally herbaceous seaweed projects another smell that rivals that of the lavender. While it's difficult to describe the aroma of seaweed, there is something about it that gives this product that 'beach vibe'. How I think Big Blue Body Conditioner differs from the bath bomb is that the lemon shines through more on the latter. You can distinctly make out the citrus element in the lotion, but I don't think it has as much of an impact as it does in ballistic format. For this reason, the fragrance of the body conditioner is slightly stunted, and I wouldn't say it's as bright or refreshing as you would be expecting. That's not to say that it doesn't replicate the scent of Big Blue well; just that the conditioner is a little more cloudy and condensed when it comes to the scent. On the positive side, this product is as hydrating, moisturising and nourishing on your skin as all of the other body conditioners. In addition, it also works wonders at making your skin feel radiant and supple for the most part of the day. This would be perfect for the summer months because Big Blue would not only replenish the skin of any moisture that has been lost in the heat, but it would also create a barrier to could protect your skin for hours afterwards.Furthermore, this particular body conditioner has probably the most impressive scent longevity than any of the other variations that came out at the same time, in the Lush Kitchen. I used this on my skin one morning before work, and found that I could still smell it on my skin when I showered after my gym session at 8pm that same day. While this could be detrimental for those who dislike strong-smelling cosmetics, I can assure you that I was able to wear a perfume over the top of the smell of this and didn't find that it clashed or outshone the fragrance.

As with most of Lush's products, this one is incredibly versatile, and while the £29.95 price tag may seem a little daunting to those unsure of such a big commitment, it is definitely worth the investment. You can use this as both a body conditioner and a shaving foam, and I've even heard of people using this in replacement of a body lotion. Whichever way you choose to use yours, I can guarantee that you'll not be left disappointed with the results. First and foremost, you can use it as Lush intended - as a body conditioner. After using a gel, jelly or soap to clean yourself with, step out of the flow of the water and apply the product across your skin, as you would a body lotion. It wont lather up, and may disappear really quickly, but this is because it is designed to permeate the skin. The heat from the shower will have opened up your pores and made your skin more susceptible to the butters and oils featured in the ingredients list. Once applied, you can either step back under the flow of the water to rinse your body down, or exit the shower immediately and pat yourself down lightly.

Unlike a body lotion, a conditioner creates a barrier of moisture around your skin, which may feel slightly greasy to some, and might prevent you from being able to apply your clothes until you've given it time to absorb into the skin. I can assure you that this will lessen within the first thirty minutes of application, and you'll feel much better afterwards.With Big Blue, I found that an amount equal to that of a heaped teaspoon was more than enough to coat an entire leg, so you really don't need to use that much each time to get amazing results. Please also be aware that you wont necessarily be able to see the product when you're massaging it across an area of skin as it does tend to absorb really quickly. However, this does not mean that you should apply any extra and waste the product - the results after you rinse yourself down will speak for themselves.Secondly, this body conditioner works as an excellent shaving foam. Simply apply a small amount across your legs and shave your legs as usual. You'll be left with super-soft skin, and one of the closest shaves you have ever experienced. Finally, you could also use this as a body lotion, as there doesn't appear to be anything featured that could damage or irritate your skin if left on for long periods of time. The only issue I have with this latter method is that it may leave your body feeling rather greasy, so may only work as an intense moisturiser for those who have incredibly dry skin.While I was skeptical at first that I would even enjoy this body conditioner, after all of the negative press that it received from other Lush fans, I found that it was exactly as I envisaged it would be. Although I would have appreciated the lemon to be a little more dominant in the overall fragrance, I cannot fault the conditioner for smelling almost identical to that of the bath bomb it was trying to replicate.Usability-wise, this conditioner does everything that you would want it too, and then outshines the other variations with its bold and uplifting scent. While it wouldn't be at the top of my list of favourite conditioners, I cannot say that it deserves to be anywhere near the bottom either.Quantitative Ingredients:Water, Organic Jojoba Oil, Glycerine, Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Fair Trade Shea Butter, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Lavender Oil, Lemon Oil, Seaweed Absolute, *Limonene, *Linalool, *Eugenol, *Geraniol, Perfume.Vegan?: Yes.2017 Price: £29.95 for 450.Year Of Original Release: 2017.Scent Family:Big Blue BallisticBig Blue Body ConditionerBubbling Under Bubble BarEnchanted Island Bath MeltMermaid Ballistic

25 February 2017

If there is one type of Lush product that I forget how much I enjoy, it would be the greener, more 'forest-like' products. While I may always yearn for the fruiter cosmetics, and rave about near enough anything that features patchouli, you cannot beat a bath or a shower with something that just feels so incredibly in tune with nature.Green Party Bath Bomb is one of those products that makes you appreciate the lengths that Lush go to to produce such unique natural smells. As the weather moves away from the 'miserable', and Spring begins to appear, ballistics such as this one are a must. They're still as comforting and as warming as other bombs, but there is something about the scent that makes them seem lighter and more uplifting.To look at, this particular bath bomb isn't the prettiest: sporting a rough, almost bobbly demeanour, with pieces of tissue paper confetti protruding from the surface. In fact, I can almost see why this product isn't a regular feature, as I don't think it would sell very well, based on its design alone. However, you only need to give this one a sniff to know that it means business.Containing a combination of bergamot, galbanum and ylang ylang, the fragrance of this is far from subtle. From the get-go, you can detect the strong, wholesome note of galbanum oil. Extracted from the Persian plant, this oil offers a dark, resinous, green-like smell - one that could be compared to the smell of pine oil a little. There is something very intoxicating and astringent about it, and is easily the strongest component of the whole smell. Alongside this, the bergamot not only brings its own green element to the mix, but elevates the smell a little so that you get a slightly sweet, citric layer; while the ylang ylang offers a gentle touch of floral that gives Green Party a very thick, heavy aroma. At first, I was worried that the scent was going to be far too potent in the water, because the bath bomb was one of the strongest ones I had bought in a while. Fortunately, I was relieved to find that it settled somewhat in the tub, and the experience I had from it was far more enjoyable than I was initially expecting. As soon as this bath bomb hit the water, it began to spin quite violently - sending out waves of white and pastel green colour and foam across the surface of the tub. Despite its aggressive movements, it also happened to be a quiet fizzer as well, so I enjoyed getting in the tub while it was dissolving and watching it up close. What I will say is that this Green Party is a little heavier than a usual bath bombs, due to the inclusion of the confetti inside the bath bomb. For this reason, if you tamper with the bath bomb while it is bobbing on the surface, I found that it tends to sink afterwards and lose its buoyancy. Having said that, there is not enough confetti in this product to be of annoyance to anyone wanting to bathe with one. The confetti will dissolve in the water, while you're bathing, and there'll be very little mess left afterwards. In fact, there is a small part of me that thinks the bath bomb would be far better without the confetti, as there wasn't enough to add anything extra to the bath, or improve the overall look of the experience. It really is only there because of the party reference in the title.Once fully dissolved, you're left with a beautiful vivid green coloured water. There is also a light blanket of white foam that rests on the surface, giving the bath a slightly sultry feel about it, which is lovely.Furthermore, the scent is very much prominent throughout the whole experience, although it is in no way as intoxicating as it is straight out of the packet. The smell disperses just a little, allowing the different layers to settle with the warmth of the water, so you get a well-rounded but very refreshing green bath from beginning to end.In addition, I found that Green Party was fairly moisturising for a bath bomb. While there wasn't any evidence of excess oils on the surface, the water did feel really velvety-soft, and my skin felt well-nourished and radiant afterwards. I also found that the scent lingered on my skin and hair for a long time afterwards; I could still smell remnants of the fragrance on my hair some five hours later.Overall, this is definitely a bath bomb I would use again, although I would need to be in the right frame of mind to do so. If you love the recent Green Green Bath Of Foam or Greenday Bubble Bar, this might be a bath bomb you'll want to invest in. Perfect to banish the winter blues, and celebrate the beginning of spring. Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Perfume, Bergamot Oil, Galbanum Oil, Ylang Ylang, Absolute Ammonium, Laureth Sulphate, *Limonene, *Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl ionone, Colour 77289, Colour 19140, Colour 42090, Colour 59040, Tissue Paper Confetti.Vegan?: Yes.2017 Price: £4.25 each.Year Of Original Release: 2009.

24 February 2017

Last year saw Lush expand their range of solid perfumes ten-fold. Whereas previously the solid format would only have been reserved for their biggest selling regular perfumes in store, 2016 was a year where an influx of limited editions were released in the Lush Kitchen - sometimes without a liquid counterpart anywhere in sight.Yuzu And Cocoa Liquid Perfume was a rarity that I was lucky enough to own way before it came out last December - a product I remember frantically scouring the internet for years ago, after I first learnt that it had been produced during one of Lush's limited edition 'Forum Special' releases. Securing two bottles in the process, I told myself that I would have to use the product scrupulously, until there was such a time when Lush were generous enough to bring it back out again for general purchase.Coupled with its liquid counterpart, Yuzu And Cocoa Solid Perfume made its debut appearance at the end of 2016, and for fans of the fragrance family, it was everything that they could have asked for. Bursting with the same fragrance as the original bubbleroon and shower cream, this limited edition was the perfect way to carry this wonderful fragrance around with you - hours after you had exited the bath or shower.Looking at the ingredients list, I discovered that this perfume is very different to all of the other products in this fragrance. This solid rendition does not contain any yuzu juice, which is what helps to give the shower cream its very rich and fruity aroma. However, the combination of bergamot and grapefruit, along with the cocoa absolute, replicates the smell really well.In the tin, both of the above ingredients merge together to create a warming, fruity collaboration - one that has very juicy notes yet is equally as musky. The inclusion of cocoa butter adds to this aroma - offering up a very subtle hint at the chocolate orange scent that I get quite prominently in all three of the other Yuzu And Cocoa products.While the fragrance is very similar to its older siblings, I do think there is a slight difference. Firstly, I don't feel as if the fragrance of the solid perfume is as complex or as generous as the shower cream - it seems to have lost some of its warmth in this format and it doesn't give such a well-rounded burst of fruitiness.Secondly, one of the main reasons why I love the liquid version so much, is because it matures on your skin across the day and emanates fragrance for hours and hours. Yuzu And Cocoa Solid Perfume not only seemed to disappear within the first hour I applied it, but the smell it did produce was very flat and rather weak.Finally, as with many of Lush's solid perfumes, I found that I could detect the waxy note of the base ingredients, which spoilt my experience of this product somewhat. From experience, I would say that the key notes in Yuzu And Cocoa Solid Perfume aren't strong enough to mask the jojoba and castor oils, which is why they have bled into the main scent a little. As with most of Lush's other solid perfumes, it melts very easily under your finger and can be applied with ease onto your pulse points. While it does dampen very slightly once it's settled, you can still smell it on your skin. Furthermore, it also works really well as a hair perfume. Simply massage your fingers across the perfume and then run your hand through your hair, or dab the oils onto the ends of your locks. This gives your locks a burst of wonderful fragrance, and offers you the joys of catching a whiff of the scent every time a breeze ruffles your hair.I found that this, and indeed any of Lush's solid perfumes, works well when applied before bed. This makes them much easier to detect on the skin, as the warmth of your body elevates the smell, and you can often smell remnants of the perfume the next day.Overall, I would say that this solid perfume would definitely be more suited as a top up throughout the day, as I don't feel as if it is robust enough to stand by itself. Having said that, I cannot imagine needing to top up after using the liquid version, as it has impressive longevity and is far more interesting on the skin. Ultimately, fans of Yuzu And Cocoa will no doubt appreciate this release for what it's worth. However, I cannot say that it's a product I will be using regularly, or indeed very often at all. Quantitative Ingredients: Organic Jojoba Oil, Castor Oil, Candelia Wax, Perfume, Bergamot Oil, Cocoa Absolute, Tonka Absolute, Grapefruit Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Citral, Coumarin, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.Vegan?: Yes.2016 Price: £9 for 12g.Year Of Original Release: 2016.Scent Family:Yuzu & Cocoa BubbleroonYuzu & Cocoa Liquid PerfumeYuzu And Cocoa Shower CreamYuzu & Cocoa Solid Perfume

23 February 2017

If there is one aspect about my favourite company that epitomises the very essence of Lush, it is their charity products, and the items they release to support interesting and important causes across the world. These goodies are not only great because they enthuse the collector in me, who enjoys a good limited edition to sink my teeth into, but because I know I am investing in something that is ethically and morally sound.Stand Up For Your Rights Soap is a brand new invention for 2017, and was showcased at both the Lush Summit event in early February, and appeared on the website at the same time. Not associated with one particular cause, this was a product inspired by recent political events, and was a bold but very relevant statement to make at a time when human rights is once again being repressed.Price up at £5, this solid block of golden orange gives off a simple but powerful message. Coupled with a complex and rich aroma - one as diverse as it is familiar, this soap is definitely worth having. Described as being uplifting yet smoky, there was something very familiar about the fragrance that encouraged a little research into other products that may share the same scent. While I didn't find any exact matches, I did discover that SUFYR has the same key components as Hand Of Friendship Soap, and also has similar traits to the likes of Inhale And Breath Of God Perfumes. Containing a combination of lemon, rosewood, and cedarwood, this soap is far stronger than you would initially expect. All three of these ingredients work really well together, and while you can detect each of them individually, this is definitely a fragrance that blends well and offers up a unified wall of smell. From the start, the rosewood offers up a fantastic warm and woody scent. It's quite a dry smell that also has something slightly floral about it, but this is an afterthought - the dry, woody note is definitely the strongest component. The lemon works well with the rosewood - not only encouraging a subtle sweetness to emerge from the pairing, but you lose most of the fruitiness that the lemon would have brought forward if there had been too much present.Instead, you can smell a flat lemon scent - one that boosts the woody notes up a little and makes this soap a little more uplifting, without being particularly fruity. Finally, the cedarwood, which blends perfectly well with the rosewood, offers its own sweet, woody layer, which helps to thicken the overall smell and give Stand Up For Your Rights a very robust, wholesome aroma. I would say that it is definitely a dry and very flat smell, but there is something crisp about this combination that reminds me of both sun-kissed tree bark and damp forestry.While the cedarwood doesn't appear to have as much of an input here as the other ingredients, it is known to help approve the appearance of skin with its softening properties, while also aiding relaxation. So while it may not be centre stage in regards to the fragrance, it's working behind the scenes to make your experience of this soap as pleasant and rewarding as possible.I found this soap fairly easy to lather up in the shower, and discovered that because of how thick the block is, I was able to utilise more foam by massaging it in a circular motion across the palm of my hands. Adding water while you're doing this builds up a surplus of cream-coloured lather, which can then be used to wash yourself with. Surprisingly, this soap left my skin feeling quite plump and nourished, which doesn't happen often when it comes to soaps. I was also left with a gentle, warming woody smell on my skin for a short time after my shower.Despite only using this a handful of times, I have barely noticed a change in the size of the block, so I would say that this is a long-lasting soap. Because of this, I would say that it would be great as a hand soap - not only because it would outlast any bottle of hand wash, but because you'd be spreading a great message while your guests wash their hands.Overall, this is a lovely soap and one that I hope Lush bring back in the future for more people to enjoy. Stand Up For Your Rights is one of those fragrance that would work really well as a perfume. Who knows, perhaps this soap is a hint of things to come in the future...Quantitative Ingredients: ?Vegan?: Yes.2017 Price: £5 for 100g.Year Of Original Release: 2017.

22 February 2017

While the Valentine's Day season bombards you with the notion that a romantic gesture of love might feature a shared bath between yourself and your partner, the reality is far more comical than they would ever let on. Whenever I envisage how the 'combined soaks' in my last relationship went down, I'm usually rekindled with the famous skit that comedian Lee Evans performed about the turmoils and tribulations of such an occurrence. I cannot say that I found it particularly endearing or romantic to be moaned at for running the bath water too hot, whilst positioning myself over the plughole so that I wouldn't injure myself moving about.Le Grand Amour Bath Bomb seems like the perfect solution then, to enjoy a bath with a loved one, without actually having a foot in your face and being made to sit upright in order to fit another body into such a confined space. Instead, you can forgo sharing the bath with your partner and instead opt for using a magnified version of Lush's most romantic bath bomb, Tisty Tosty.First released in 2008 as a celebration of Mark and Mo's thirteen year anniversary, this bath bomb is something of a novelty. Much like The Sexxx Bomb that made its debut appearance a few weeks ago, this giant ballistic is nothing is designed to be either bought as a one-off for a loved one; or for fans of the normal sized one, who just want to treat themselves to something a little more indulgent.As with all of Lush's bigger bath bombs, in order for them to be utilised in the bath, Lush have to reduce the amount of fragrance that goes into making them. Simply enlarging them whilst keeping the ratios the same would be too potent on the skin and the nose. So that consumers are actually able to bathe with a whole product, the company have to considerably reduce the ingredients that go into making the fragrance. Ultimately, what you get then is a super-sized ballistic that has near enough the same strength as the regular version, but with just more sodium bicarbonate and citric acid to fizzle away in the tub.Much like its older, smaller sibling, Le Grand Amour features both rose and jasmine absolute, along with a generous helping of geranium and lemon oil as well. Together, these ingredients create a very potent floral smell - one that features the sweet, muskiness of the rose and jasmine; the powdery, cloudy properties of geranium; and a tiny thread of lemon that gives the overall fragrance a little fruity burst.

Aside from the fragrances of these four components, each of the ingredients has also been specifically chosen to improve your physical and mental wellbeing throughout your bath. Rose oil is not only used to repair your skin and help it to feel soft afterwards, but apparently has the ability to soothe broken hearts as well. Whereas lemon oil adds uplifting qualities to the bath bomb, that allow you to feel invigorated and far more positive afterwards. Finally, jasmine is a well-known aphrodisiac, so the inclusion of this in this bath bomb should hopefully set you up with the right frame of mind to enjoy your day and your evening, with your partner.Just like Tisty Tosty, Le Grand Amour Bath Bomb began to fizz immediately after it came into contact with the water - sending out thin waves of cloudy-white foam that dissolved almost straight away. After a short time, the dried rose buds that adorned the surface and the core of the bath bomb, began to drift out across the tub. While there were more than you would expect in the normal sized version, there were not so many that they made a mess in my tub Furthermore, they certainly wouldn't cause any hassle removing them, if you're someone who dislikes debris in your bath. Disappointingly, I found that the bath bomb shrunk very quickly in the water, and had completely disappeared within a couple of minutes. As to be expected, there also wasn't anything extra or spectacular about the bath after it had dissolved, and because it left the water mostly unscathed by any colour or decoration, this just seemed make the bath bomb appear even more pointless than any of the other enlarged ones that I have tried. I think that Lush would have done well to include a colourful centre, just to give this bath bomb an edge over its sibling.While I did feel soft and refreshed after bathing with this product for a good ninety minutes (you have to get your money's worth, right?), I don't feel that it was any different from using a regular bath bomb, and even then the normal-sized Tisty Tosty is not known for being overly nourishing to begin with. Overall, I am glad that I am able to say that I have at least tried Le Grand Amour Bath Bomb now. However, I would definitely not consider buying it again - novelty factor or not. In hindsight, I would rather have invested the money on a smaller bath bomb and a bubble bar, and enjoyed an elaborate, colourful bath cocktail instead. This one is definitely not getting any love from me this year.Quantitative Ingredients:Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Rose Absolute, Geranium Oil, Lemon Oil, Jasmine Absolute, Rosebuds, Orris Root Powder, Geraniol, Citronellol, Perfume.2017 Price: £8.25 each.Year Of Original Release: 2008 Scent Family:Le Grand Amour Bath BombTisty Tosty Bath BombTisty Tosty Limited Edition Pink

21 February 2017

A good percentage of those who grew up in the 90's will remember the Spice Girls with at least a small bout of fondness. Whether they joined one of the thousands of tribute groups that formed in playgrounds across the country, or simply bopped to their favourite songs in the comfort of their own bedroom, everyone was caught up with the Brit-pop sensation in some small way.While the inclusion of ginger seems to be the only reference Spice Curls Soap has to the famous group, there is something very sassy and sultry about the aroma. It is this very factor that makes me believe it is the ingredients and powerful aroma that form a link between the product and one of the biggest girl groups of all time.So where to start with this complex and very interesting soap? I'll begin by stating that Spice Curls is a wholesome cluster of herbs and spices - a thick crescendo of smells that lace together to form one of the strongest smelling soaps I have ever experienced from Lush. While its use is definitely limited to the colder months of the year, this is a soap that leaves a lasting impression on both your body and your mind; it's not one that you forget easily, for better or worse. With cardamom as the key ingredient, this soap is warm and slightly smoky, with very dry but subtle notes of what I can only describe as lemon. This is a byproduct of the cardamom though, not a stand alone ingredient, so don't expect this soap to be fruity. Alongside this, there is also an accumulation of cloves and cinnamon underneath, which add an equal measure of heat and spice. Both of these two components have their own natural sweetness, but I would not describe this soap as being sweet in the same way that you might describe the likes of Hot Toddy or Cinders.Instead, the layers of ginger, paprika, ground chilli and cayenne pepper make this a strong, grounded spicy aroma, while the inclusion of peppermint adds a crisp but full-flavoured fragrance. This reminds me of both Pumpkin Soap and Jacko Ballistic, albeit much stronger, slightly creamier and more rounded.What I will say is that Spice Curls is one of the most full-bodied soaps I have ever come across from Lush. It's potency will greet you before you've even opened the box, and it continues to dominate any room you leave it resting in. As you can imagine, the smell transpires well in the shower, and is definitely an effective alternative to minty or bright citrusy smells, if you're looking for something to wake you up. This is quite a soft soap, as in it gives way a little when you squeeze it, so I would suggest that you pat it dry in between uses so as not to allow the water to shrink your block quicker than you would like. Having said that, the consistency works in your favour as it is such a generous latherer, and takes very little stimulation to produce a thick, creamy and very fragrant foam to wash yourself with. I'd say that this is a soap you don't need to hold under the running water too much in the shower: it would probably diminish fairly quickly this way, and you could easily create an amass of lather away from the stream and then massage this across your skin.Featuring ground rice as one of the key ingredients, you'll notice that this soap also has a slight gritty texture to it. This allows the product to offer a gentle exfoliation while you're cleaning yourself, and I love how soft my skin felt without needing to put too much pressure on my body while I was using the soap. This would be great for those who dislike scratchy scrubs, or for those who have sensitive skin, as you barely notice the exfoliation because it is so gentle. However, the results are just as impressive as some of Lush's sugar-based scrubs.As to be expected, the smell of this stayed on my skin for a long time afterwards, which is part of the reason why I believe it is more suited for the winter months. I don't quite know how I'd feel being able to smell a strong thread of cloves and cardamom on my skin when the sun was out and making me sweat!Impressively, once I had towelled myself down and let my skin completely dry, I was surprised to find that my hands and arms felt really soft and shiny - my hands in particular sharing the same feeling I get when I've applied hand cream to them. The only negative aspect about this soap, aside from it being suited to certain seasons, is that I also feel as if I'd have to be in a certain mood to use this. As it is very heavy on the senses, this is not a soap I would want to use all the time; neither is it a soap that I think would sit well as a hand soap - its potency would be quite off-putting for those wanting to wash their hands.Overall, I found that I liked this soap a lot more than I was expecting to. The combination of its strong smell, soft appearance and lasting smoothness means that this is a soap I reckon that you need to try at least once, if only to Spice Up Your Life. However, if you dislike potent fragrances, this is one you are gonna Wannabe missing.Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerine, Rapeseed Oil and Coconut Oil, Kaolin,Ground Rice, Sorbitol, Fresh Ginger Root, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cardamom Oil, Clove Bud Oil, Spearmint Oil, Organic Hungarian Paprika, Fair Trade Organic Cinnamon Powder, Organic Ground Cayenne Pepper, Organic Ground Chilli, Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Stearate, *Cinnamal, *Eugenol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume, Colour 15510.Vegan?: Yes.2017 Price: £4.50 for 100g.Year Of Original Release: 2008.

20 February 2017

Although it's rare for me to feign any level of enthusiasm when it comes to floral fragrances, I was definitely really excited about trying this brand new bath bomb out in the tub. Released earlier this week as part of the Mother's Day range, this brand new ballistic is reserved for anyone who enjoys a good, colourful soak.

Ups-A-Daisy Bath Bomb is a celebration of freshly laundered clothes - a homely, delicate smell that reminds us of clean sheets and mismatched socks strewn across the laundry basket. No matter what age we become, there is something very comforting and warming about these scents, and many of you will no doubt have fond memories attached to all of the above.

Containing rosewood, rose and orange oil, this limited edition ballistic offers a fresh, uplifting floral fragrance - one that is robust enough to stay with you throughout the whole bathing experience, even when you might use other products that have the potential to override the scent in the water. However, the aroma is not in anyway heady or overly potent, so would suit those who prefer lighter floral smells such as Frozen and Dorothy Bubble Bar.

All three of the components featured here compliment each other so well. The rosewood brings forward a light, citrusy fragrance with elements of woodiness that gives this bath bomb a wonderful grounded base. Alongside this there is a delicate note of rose. This is not anywhere near as musky or overbearing as it usually is in floral arrangements. Instead, it offers a gentle floral layer that adds a little sweetness.

Alongside both of these components, the orange oil is presented as a warming cuddle that wraps itself around the whole fragrance. Rather than offering the bright and zesty citrus aroma that you would expect the ingredient to do, the orange actually adds a gentle, almost musky fruit layer to the bath bomb. This elevates the floral and woody notes found in the product and makes this a very beautiful aroma indeed.

In all fairness, Ups-A-Daisy Bath Bomb is definitely far more colourful than the aroma would suggest, which makes it a great investment for those who dislike strong-smelling products, but enjoy the elaborate displays that they create in the bath tub.

This is quite a slow, quiet fizzer and will float on the surface for a good ten minutes, so I would suggest that you submerge yourself into the water and enjoy the show from a front row seat. At first, the bath bomb releases a combination of orange and white waves of colour. These, accompanied with the shape of the bath bomb, create some truly stunning patterns across the surface of the water.

Once the outer side of the bath bomb has dissolved and the water hits the pink or blue centre, more and more colours begin to emerge from within the middle of the ballistic. Over time, Ups-A-Daisy Bath Bomb will paint the water with a whole rainbow of different colours, and you'll be left with swirls and green and blues, oranges, purples and pinks. I was amazed by how beautiful the water looked once this bomb had fully disappeared.

By the end, the water became a thick, translucent shade of orange and I was impressed to discover that there was a slight glean on the surface, which suggested that this bath bomb was going to be highly moisturising on the skin. As it turned out, I was correct - you can feel how soft the water is when you climb into the bath tub and my skin definitely benefitted from the various oils that were used to create this.

Once out of the tub, I was a little disappointed to discover that the fragrance didn't transfer that much onto my skin. While I felt soft and nourished afterwards, the scent was very weak; I had to hold my nose right up to my skin to detect any of the notes from the bath water, and I found even then that it was only really the orange that had survived the journey.

Overall, this bath bomb is a great new addition to the Lush family, and I reckon it'll prove really popular. If you enjoy floral smells, if you're looking for a vivid display in the tub, and if you're looking for something to leave you feeling really well moisturised, this might be one you'll need to pick yourself up the next time you're in a Lush store.